High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook Available Online

Governor Reynolds introduced the High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook to help guide Iowa employers, high schools and students through the process of implementing a similar program in their community.

Representatives from business, nonprofits, government, education, media and other sectors filled the room at the Career Academy of Pella earlier this month for the introduction of the High School Registered Apprenticeship Playbook. Governor Reynolds, alongside representatives of Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella and Des Moines Area Community College spoke at the press conference.

The playbook was developed to help guide Iowa employers, high schools and students through the process of implementing a Registered Apprenticeship program in their local community.

“The combination of classroom instruction with on-the-job experience through Registered Apprenticeships takes learning to a new level,” Gov. Reynolds said. “This employer-driven model helps students gain valuable skills and pursue outstanding career opportunities in Iowa, while helping businesses hire the skilled workers they need. The playbook will accelerate this effort in communities across the state in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school by the year 2025.”

“Vermeer is pleased to participate in this Registered Apprenticeship pilot program. We are excited about the opportunity it provides students and local manufacturers. This valuable work will also serve as a template for other careers and regions, addressing a variety of workforce needs across Iowa,” said Mary Andringa, chair of the Board of Vermeer Corporation.

Vermeer Corporation, the Career Academy of Pella, the U.S. Department of Labor and Des Moines Area Community College worked together to offer a local welding Registered Apprenticeship program beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.

“Thank you for building this Registered Apprenticeship. I prefer to work and learn with my hands, so I look forward to this program and starting down my career path. I hope other students will also take advantage of this great opportunity right here in Iowa,” Charles Vander Velden, a Pella High School senior and the first apprentice in the program, said.

Vermeer Corporation and the Career Academy of Pella led development of the playbook, in coordination with the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, Future Ready Iowa, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship in Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College, and in consultation with other regional employers, school districts and state agencies. The playbook can be found at www.IowaSTEM.gov/Playbook.